BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                          SB 557
                                                          Page  1

Date of Hearing:   June 23, 1999

              ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 
                    Carole Migden, Chairwoman

          SB 557 (Peace) - As Amended: March 25, 1999 

Policy Committee:                               
TransportationVote:17-0

Urgency:     Yes                  State Mandated Local  
Program:NoReimbursable:           

  SUMMARY  :

  This bill  authorizes the California Transportation Commission to  
relinquish a segment of highway 54 to the City of El Cajon and a  
segment of highway 144 to the City of Santa Barbara.

  FISCAL EFFECT  :

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) would  
experience a minor, ongoing cost savings by no longer being  
required to maintain these highways.

  COMMENTS  :

  Purpose.   The City of El Cajon is seeking the relinquishment of  
its portion of Highway 54 in order to make improvements that  
Caltrans does not currently have funds to accomplish.  City  
officials claim they have access to funds for improvements to  
this road but that the funds are time-sensitive.  Consequently,  
they contend the urgency clause is necessary to take advantage  
of funds that are immediately available.  El Cajon would be  
prohibited from imposing any special restrictions on the  
operations of buses or commercial trucks on the relinquished  
section of the highway.

Santa Barbara is pursuing local traffic improvements involving  
an intersection and freeway ramp related to Highway 144.  The  
city wants to add a roundabout to the nearby intersection and  
the relinquishment of the highway segment would allow the city  
to proceed with the improvements in the manner it believes is  
most suitable.  City officials believe Caltrans will accept the  
roundabout as part of the relinquishment proposal.








                                                          SB 557
                                                          Page  2




  Analysis Prepared by  :    Tony Rice / APPR. / (916) 319-2081